Apple rules top three smartphone spots but loses new users to Android

Apple was responsible for the top three best-selling smartphones in the US …

Apple continues to hold the title for some of the top-selling smartphone models, with the iPhone 4S being the best selling handset in the US last quarter, according to a new report by market research firm NPD. But while the iPhone has repeatedly made Apple the top smartphone vendor in the US, Android still appears to be attracting more new users.

Apple had three iPhone models available for sale in the fourth quarter of 2011: the just-released iPhone 4S, the iPhone 4, which Apple continues to sell as a lower-cost entry-level model, and the nearly three-year-old iPhone 3GS, which AT&T still offers as essentially a $0 bargain smartphone. Collectively, all iPhones sold accounted for 43 percent of smartphone sales in the US for the quarter.

According to NPD analyst Ross Rubin, Apple sold nearly two iPhone 4S models for every iPhone 4 sold, and five iPhone 4S models for every iPhone 3GS sold. And despite the large disparity in numbers, the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS ended up being the top three smartphones sold in the US.

But even with the top Android smartphone (Samsung Galaxy SII) being outsold more than five to one in the US, Android handsets in aggregate still accounted for 48 percent of US smartphone sales last quarter, accord to NPD's data. Perhaps more alarming for Apple, users buying their first smartphones chose an Android device 57 percent of the time, and an iOS device just 34 percent of the time.

While Android has been criticized for its platform fragmentation and the complexity it presents to users, the platform's wide carrier support, growing app selection, and variety of models available from several vendors attracts a generally wider audience. Particularly in the US, Rubin noted, Android is the only choice for users who want to take advantage of LTE networks from Verizon and AT&T or Sprint's WiMAX network.

174 Reader Comments

As far as I can tell this story is saying the three models of the iPhone outsold every model of Android. And the Android platform collectively is outselling the iOS platform collectively. At least without including sales of the iPod Touch and iPad.

As far as I can tell this story is saying the three models of the iPhone outsold every model of Android. And the Android platform collectively is outselling the iOS platform collectively. At least without including sales of the iPod Touch and iPad.

The problem is from the decision to make more to it going into affect is a long period of time. In the short lived market of each individual model, it may not be worth it. Just make more of the next model.

As far as I can tell this story is saying the three models of the iPhone outsold every model of Android. And the Android platform collectively is outselling the iOS platform collectively. At least without including sales of the iPod Touch and iPad.

This is basically the same story every quarter.

The story is that there isn't a new iPhone every quarter so Apple only comes close to Android in the quarter where Apple releases a new iPhone. Handset model to handset model Apple always wins that, but that only make sense when you consider that there are 300ish Android handsets out there.

Hey we have to spin the numbers somehow. The android sales include all those none smartphones in them in which case we may as well include the ipod numbers with the iphones. The point is apple is taken $75% plus of the industry profits while everyone else is fighting for the remaining 25%. If this trend continues I am sure apple will be fine with it. It's the same story, and I will repeat again "market share at the expense of profits is a recipe for bankruptcy."

Blackberries I've had come from Mexico or Canada. Of course, a Blackerry worth buying would be one on QNX. RIM certainly shot themselves in the arse with the QNX delay. At the moment, I see no substitute for Blackberries, so I guess I have to wait.

When ARS starts tracking iphone percentage with cracked screens, then it will actually be news rather than PR. Of course, that would take research.

The story is that there isn't a new iPhone every quarter so Apple only comes close to Android in the quarter where Apple releases a new iPhone. Handset model to handset model Apple always wins that, but that only make sense when you consider that there are 300ish Android handsets out there.

That's not exactly true. Over 2011, sales of the iPhone 4 continued to grow quarter after quarter, with a big spike in sales with the iPhone 4S.

Can anyone recommend a smart phone not made by slave labor at Foxconn?

There are probably plenty of smart phones made by slave labour at other companies.

well played.

Well done, instead of thinking of even more people being employed in slave labor conditions is actually a really serious negative, you actually use that fact to congratulate someone for a retort obviously aimed at the largest employer of Slave Labor in the US, Apple, considering phone 1, phone 2, and phone 3 of the top US selling handsets are made under the guidance of Apple. And that Apple is the "biggest" company in the world.

It isn't "well played", but any stretch of the imagination. Sir. Is it.

Well done, instead of thinking of even more people being employed in slave labor conditions is actually a really serious negative, you actually use that fact to congratulate someone for a retort obviously aimed at the largest employer of Slave Labor in the US, Apple, considering phone 1, phone 2, and phone 3 of the top US selling handsets are made under the guidance of Apple. And that Apple is the "biggest" company in the world.

It isn't "well played", but any stretch of the imagination. Sir. Is it.

The story is that there isn't a new iPhone every quarter so Apple only comes close to Android in the quarter where Apple releases a new iPhone. Handset model to handset model Apple always wins that, but that only make sense when you consider that there are 300ish Android handsets out there.

That's not exactly true. Over 2011, sales of the iPhone 4 continued to grow quarter after quarter, with a big spike in sales with the iPhone 4S.

Sales of the iPhone 4 never peeked or dropped.

I think you're confusing individual handsets with OSs as a whole. It is completely possible for the 4 or the 4S sales to grow quarter after quarter and still loose out on the market share as a whole because Android is growing as a whole faster than iOS.

The iPhone is fragmented, it's a ridiculous argument that Apple should have never made. The 3GS doesn't run the same apps than the 4 and the 4S also has unique features that only it can take advantage of. Just wait for the 5 and it'll introduce even more differences.

Of course you get a bigger range of options with Android and that can lead to consumer confusion, but we are well out of the introduction phase for this new platform. Everyone knows what a smartphone can and should do, no need to make things dead simple to gain mass adoption. As the general public becomes more educated about smartphones they will be more willing to try and learn new things and so on.

Apple is great at introducing new products and platforms because they design end to end consumer experiences that just work, but let's face it, once the technology becomes mainstream this isn't a selling feature that most people consider vital anymore.

I saw a ditsy lady in my local Sprint store today complaining that her contacts had all disappeared from her new iPhone 4S after she had backed up her iPhone (what she actually did was restore from a backup that was done at a time when she had no contacts, and on top of that, she had never synced contacts to her iTunes).

I deftly swung my head around and rattled off the following:

"If you had stuck with your Android, you wouldn't be here. You'd be at home signing in to your Android again with your Gmail account and instantly retrieving every single one of your contacts."

She locked eyes with me and admitted sheepishly..."yeah, I know...I used to have an Android, but the iPhone looked so cool!"

I think you're confusing individual handsets with OSs as a whole. It is completely possible for the 4 or the 4S sales to grow quarter after quarter and still loose out on the market share as a whole because Android is growing as a whole faster than iOS.

<i>Perhaps more alarming for Apple, users buying their first smartphones chose an Android device 57 percent of the time, and an iOS device just 34 percent of the time.</i>

Sounds reasonable, not alarming. You get a cheap Android first, and when it comes time to renew, if you have the cash, the odds are you get an iPhone. If you don't, then Apple probably doesn't want your business anyway.

Android allows those who don't have the money to still get a decent smartphone. Everyone wins. (Me, I have the dumbest phone money could buy - and the thing still comes ladled with useless geegaws.)

Seems to me that Apple "losing new users" could also be interpreted as Android less likely to retain repeat customers.

I could, it's not likely however. This is a rapidly growing market, I wouldn't be surprised if most people buying smartphones are new to them. In consumer goods, people tend to stick to what they know.

It is often argued that Apple's gadgets have a halo effect on their computer products and vice versa. Why wouldn't that be true for other companies? You try Android, you like it, why would you switch? Unless you have some numbers showing that Android users are massively dissatisfied with their phone, they're likely to stick to Android.

I saw a ditsy lady in my local Sprint store today complaining that her contacts had all disappeared from her new iPhone 4S after she had backed up her iPhone (what she actually did was restore from a backup that was done at a time when she had no contacts, and on top of that, she had never synced contacts to her iTunes).

I deftly swung my head around and rattled off the following:

"If you had stuck with your Android, you wouldn't be here. You'd be at home signing in to your Android again with your Gmail account and instantly retrieving every single one of your contacts."

She locked eyes with me and admitted sheepishly..."yeah, I know...I used to have an Android, but the iPhone looked so cool!"

/facepalm

Your example has nothing to do with iPhone or Android specifically. The lady never backed up her contacts. How would she have retrieved contacts from her Gmail account if she'd never made one?

In iOS she has two ways of backing up her contacts. One is through iTunes and the other is through iCloud. If she doesn't make use of the service, there is little else that can be done.

Sounds reasonable, not alarming. You get a cheap Android first, and when it comes time to renew, if you have the cash, the odds are you get an iPhone. If you don't, then Apple probably doesn't want your business anyway.

The Galaxy is a cheap phone? And where are you getting your odds from? You must have a source that shows that a large chunk of iOS users are switchers, right?

I think you're confusing individual handsets with OSs as a whole. It is completely possible for the 4 or the 4S sales to grow quarter after quarter and still loose out on the market share as a whole because Android is growing as a whole faster than iOS.

This only matters if you are in the race for market share.

Tell that to RIM, they keep increasing sales from year to year, yet everyone thinks they are dead. Market share matters it's just a question of how much.

It is often argued that Apple's gadgets have a halo effect on their computer products and vice versa. Why wouldn't that be true for other companies? You try Android, you like it, why would you switch? Unless you have some numbers showing that Android users are massively dissatisfied with their phone, they're likely to stick to Android.

I saw a ditsy lady in my local Sprint store today complaining that her contacts had all disappeared from her new iPhone 4S after she had backed up her iPhone (what she actually did was restore from a backup that was done at a time when she had no contacts, and on top of that, she had never synced contacts to her iTunes).

I deftly swung my head around and rattled off the following:

"If you had stuck with your Android, you wouldn't be here. You'd be at home signing in to your Android again with your Gmail account and instantly retrieving every single one of your contacts."

She locked eyes with me and admitted sheepishly..."yeah, I know...I used to have an Android, but the iPhone looked so cool!"

/facepalm

What a white knight. If only Apple had some sort of service on the web, a cloud like service, that automatically synced all contacts and other personal data regardless of iTunes back-up, whenever added.

We can only hope such a service materialises someday soon in this web obsessed world.

"People choose Android, but then buy an iPhone, so Android will eventually die""Android attracts new users, who will then stay with Android, so iOS will eventually die""Android is growing market share, so eventually iPhone will become insignificant and die"

It's really clear here that Apple and Android (or maybe just Samsung, but that's another discussion) are both benefiting from the explosion in popularity of smartphones.

If Android didn't exist, would Apple be selling more iPhones? I'm not so sure. I suspect those customers would go with Windows Phone 7, Blackberry or even Palm. The wilful avoidance of a product as perfect and refined as the iPhone (I say that without irony) is not because of the shining glory of Android. It's the same reason people eat shitty food, smoke cigarettes or don't clean their house - some people just don't like nice things.

I saw a ditsy lady in my local Sprint store today complaining that her contacts had all disappeared from her new iPhone 4S after she had backed up her iPhone (what she actually did was restore from a backup that was done at a time when she had no contacts, and on top of that, she had never synced contacts to her iTunes).

I deftly swung my head around and rattled off the following:

"If you had stuck with your Android, you wouldn't be here. You'd be at home signing in to your Android again with your Gmail account and instantly retrieving every single one of your contacts."

She locked eyes with me and admitted sheepishly..."yeah, I know...I used to have an Android, but the iPhone looked so cool!"

/facepalm

Your example has nothing to do with iPhone or Android specifically. The lady never backed up her contacts. How would she have retrieved contacts from her Gmail account if she'd never made one?

In iOS she has two ways of backing up her contacts. One is through iTunes and the other is through iCloud. If she doesn't make use of the service, there is little else that can be done.

The point I'm trying to make is that while she was competent with her Android, somehow she failed with the iPhone. If a soccer mom can use an Android without problems, what does that say about iOS? That maybe it isn't as intuitive as some might say?

I cannot tell you how many times I have "rescued" my iPhone-toting friends from data loss, contact loss, music and video loss. I don't care what solutions are in place or what features are available for use, the problem is this: why am I always putting crap back onto peoples' iPhones and not Androids?

Something in the process is affecting how people are handling data or contact backup when it comes to Android vs iOS.

Maybe this (whatever "this" might be exactly) is why new smartphone users are still choosing Android.